The floor, sits a youth, about thirteen, in a ragged waistcoat, his hand under his chin, and his elbow leaning on the stool, his dine expressive eyes full of tears, directed upon his father, whom he contemplates with a look of truly filial sorrow; while the big unconscious tear steals down his pale dejected cheek. In short, the wan appearance of the whole group at one glance declares the scantiness of their food. old quilt hung across the garret to hide the miserable beds, the broken plaster exhibiting the laths, the little ornaments of fine but broken china displayed on and about the chimney-piece, and the whole tout ensemble of poverty, are minutely attended to in this admirable production; which only wants the absurd superstition. of some ancient master's name, to stamp it invaluable. The companion, though finely painted, as far as relates to the handling, correctness of drawing, judicious colouring, and management as to keeping and effect, has never yet attracted the admiration of the judicious connoisseur, in any degree of comparison equal to the first. However, as a pair, they both went off so much to the emolument of the publisher, that he or they thought fit to employ another painter to add a pair in continuation of the same subject, so as to form a complete set of four capital prints. This being accomplished. secundum artem, the public were again gratified with a view of their old favourites in company with two new candidates for their share of praise. As we are thoroughly convinced that the liberality and interest of the proprietors and publishers would have induced them to procure the two last pictures from our painter if they could; it would be unfair to enter farther into a comparison that could in the slightest degree injure the living artist, for the sake of adding to the fame. of him who is no more. But to proceed with our Memoir: it was while Morland remained in this sanctuary for insolvents, as it has been asserted by some of his intimates, that a few gen tlemen, six in number, proposed to buy up all his debts at as cheap a rate as possible; and take all the pictures he painted at a fair price, till they should be reimbursed. That he should be provided with a good table, for himself and his wife; have a convenient house, rent and taxes free; and be allowed two hundred a year for pocket money and clothes, with the use of a horse two hours in any part of every day he chose. This offer, liberal and great as it was, he is said to have treated with the most sovereign contempt. Whether such an offer had ever been made him or not, we have never been able to ascertain with certainty; but this much we may venture to affirm, that if such a proposal was ever submitted to him, he would treat it exactly as he is said to have done the offer above mentioned. We have heard of several other persons who interested themselves very much in his favour, and the names of two or three noblemen have been mentioned, whose proposals were so extravagantly generous, that even Mor land, in his wildest fits of independence, could never have been so mad as to reject. The only authentic anecdote of this kind we have yet been enabled to collect, was respecting the offer made George, by the late Mr. Romney the painter, of Cavendish Square, which was to board and lodge him genteelly, and allow him three hundred per annum, upon his signing articles for three, years. The liberality of these terms reflects the greatest credit upon the memory of the favourite artist who made it, and is also a very striking instance of judgment and penetration, as it was made at a time when Morland was unknown to the public, having then but just left his father; but George refused, observing, that "the slavery of one apprenticeship was quite enough." The above was related to the author, by the painter's respectable mother, since her son's death, in the presence of three or four persons of the family; and the veracity of the worthy old gentlewoman's character is too well established to admit of a doubt. CHAP. VI. THE PAINTER'S LIBERATION FROM DURANCE HIS FRIENDS CONCEIVE A HOPE OF HIS REFORMATION SCHEMES OF MUSICAL RECREATION FRUSTRATEDINTRODUCTION OF A STRANGER TO HIS BROTHER AND SISTER REFLECTIONS UPON THE CRUEL PARTIALITY OF PARENTS ΤΟ ONE CHILD IN PREJUDICE ΤΟ ANOTHER OBLIGED ΤΟ REMOVE FROM TOWN FOR THE SAKE OF STUDY -- WHAT HE STUDIED AT PADDINGTON MORE INSTANCES OF EXTRAVAGANCE THE LOSS OF HIS HORSE, AND OTHER WHIMSICALITIES. IN IN this place of "crimping durance,” as George used to term it, from the number of those kidnapping miscreants that were continually prowling about the court, and public-houses adjacent, he was more than |